LOCAL 555--The membership of Local 555 in Eugene, Oregon showed strength and solidarity by resisting employers’ demands to degrade their healthcare coverage to a plan that might have had unfavorable consequences through out the life of the contract. Members also stuck together and said no to bonuses, instead asking for a fair contract agreement with hard money increases every year of the agreement.

Support from the community and local union leadership helped the membership in Eugene sustain the will to improve their contract through eleven months of bargaining, and finally workers have achieved their aims.

Last night, workers overwhelmingly voted to ratify a new contract agreement with their employers. The ballots have been counted and Grocery, Meat, and CCK workers in the Eugene/Springfield area have overwhelmingly (100% CCK, 90% Grocery, and 90% Meat) voted to approve the contract offer from their employers.

The new contract includes:

• Working on Christmas on a voluntary basis only;

• No bonuses--hard money increases up to 1.30 over the life of the contract

• Improvements to the Health and Welfare plan; and

• a secure retirement.

Workers are pleased with the contract agreement, and they certainly deserve to be congratulated for their solidarity and hard work in achieving their aims at the bargaining table. UFCW members’ victory in Oregon shows that no matter how long it may take, we really are more powerful when we speak together.